• International Meteorological Activities
• Highlights
• Resource Use
• Performance
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Contribution
• Multilateral Activities
• Bilateral Activities

Meteorology is one of the most inherently international of all fields of science and human endeavour. Accordingly, international cooperation plays a vital role in the operation of the Bureau, enabling it to draw on, and benefit from, scientific, technological and operational developments and expertise in other countries while contributing, within its own capability, to the effectiveness of the total international effort from which all countries benefit. This helps to ensure that the Australian community receives the best services possible within the limitations of available resources and the international state of the art in meteorological science and technology.

International Meteorological Activities focus on Australia's involvement in the programs and activities of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a special feature of which is the Bureau’s operation of one of the three World Meteorological Centres (WMCs) of the WMO World Weather Watch (WWW). The WMO involvement is complemented by a range of other multilateral and bilateral activities with neighbouring countries in the South-West Pacific and South-East Asia, including formal bilateral arrangements with China, India, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

A fundamental principle embodied in the Convention and traditions of the WMO is that of voluntary contribution to the total international system and the free exchange of essential data and products between National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of all countries. Australia benefits greatly under this system, particularly through free access to the meteorological satellite data of Japan, the USA, China, the Russian Federation and Europe.

The Bureau’s International Meteorological Activities are coordinated by the International and Public Affairs Section of the Executive and International Affairs Branch in the Bureau Head Office. Most Branches of the Bureau are involved in activities that have an international impact. The International and Public Affairs Section provides the focal point for the planning and coordination of these activities and provides support to the Permanent Representative of Australia with WMO and the Australian members of WMO Technical Commissions.